BOSTON, May 7, 2014\u2014The attorneys for Justina Pelletier\u2019s family have issued a response to HHS Secretary Polanowicz\u2019s proposed reunification plan. While supportive of commitment to reunifying Justina with her family as soon as possible, attorneys for the Pelletiers are concerned that the reunification plan leaves serious ambiguities unanswered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attorneys Staver and Moran note that, contrary to claims made in the reunification plan, it has always been in DCF\u2019s power to release Justina: \u201cIf DCF walked into court tomorrow morning and informed the court that DCF no longer objected to a return of Justina to her loving parents in Connecticut, this case would be closed within hours. Moreover, the DCF regulations explicitly state that DCF \u2018does have the option to close cases by administrative decision without court action\u2019 even if their custody is based on a court order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reunification plan also required that the Pelletiers \u201cFollow through with the Tufts Medical Center Plan,\u201d which is exactly what the Pelletiers tried to do before Boston Children\u2019s Hospital seized custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pelletiers \u201chave consistently been denied any information about Justina\u2019s medical condition by DCF,\u201d said Staver and Moran. \u201cDCF has even ignored Judge Johnston\u2019s approval of all parties\u2019 agreement that Tufts supervise and direct Justina\u2019s medical care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The letter also raised questions about Justina\u2019s inability to return to West Hartford Schools and the decision to move Justina to the behavioral issues wing of the Susan Wayne Center for Excellence in Connecticut, under Massachusetts DCF supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGiven that nearly 15 months have passed since Justina was removed from her parents\u2019 custody, DCF\u2019s past history in this case elicits serious concerns about the lack of specific timelines,\u201d said Staver and Moran. \u201cIf these concerns can be adequately addressed, the Pelletiers believe that significant progress can be made toward the resolution of Justina\u2019s medical needs, and the return of Justina to Connecticut and to her loving family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reverend Patrick Mahoney, family spokesperson for the Pelletiers, said: \u201cWhile we are thankful for Secretary Polanowicz\u2019s recent personal involvement and public statements committing to getting Justina home to the Pelletiers, we believe addressing the issues raised in this letter can make the reunification process much smoother for Justina and her family. We hope DCF responds accordingly so that we can plan to get Justina home as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To read the letter from the Pelletier family attorneys in its entirety, contact:
Rev. Patrick Mahoney at (540) 538-4741<\/p>\n\n\n\n